Method And System For A Multi-Fiber Push-On/Pull-Off Connector Locking Clip

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems for a multi-fiber push-on/pull-off connector locking clip are disclosed and may include operatively coupling a multi-fiber push-on/push-off (MPO) connector to an MPO adaptor by inserting the MPO connector into the MPO adaptor, where the MPO connector comprises an MPO connector pull-to-release housing. The MPO connector may be secured to the MPO adaptor by placing an MPO locking clip adjacent to the MPO connector pull-to-release housing, thereby preventing the MPO connector pull-to-release housing from being actuated. An optical cable may be coupled to the MPO connector. The adaptor may be coupled to an optical device, which may include an optical transceiver. The MPO locking clip may be plastic or metal. The MPO connector and the MPO connector pull-to-release housing may be plastic.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application62/387,799, filed on Jan. 4, 2016, each of which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

Certain embodiments of the disclosure relate to fiber optics. Morespecifically, certain embodiments of the disclosure relate to a methodand system for a multi-fiber push-on/pull-off connector locking clip.

BACKGROUND

As data networks scale to meet ever-increasing bandwidth requirements,the shortcomings of copper data channels are becoming apparent. Signalattenuation and crosstalk due to radiated electromagnetic energy are themain impediments encountered by designers of such systems. They can bemitigated to some extent with equalization, coding, and shielding, butthese techniques require considerable power, complexity, and cable bulkpenalties while offering only modest improvements in reach and verylimited scalability. Free of such channel limitations, opticalcommunication has been recognized as the successor to copper links.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, throughcomparison of such systems with the present disclosure as set forth inthe remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A system and/or method for a multi-fiber push-on/pull-off connectorlocking clip, substantially as shown in and/or described in connectionwith at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in theclaims.

Various advantages, aspects and novel features of the presentdisclosure, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof,will be more fully understood from the following description anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating fiber optic communication utilizingmulti-fiber push-on/pull-off connectors, in accordance with an exampleembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a multi-fiber push-on/push-off connector with alocking clip, in accordance with an example embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates the coupling of a multi-fiber push-on/push-offconnector to a multi-fiber push-on/push-off adaptor, in accordance withan example embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates the securing of a multi-fiber push-on/push-offconnector to a multi-fiber push-on/push-off adaptor with a locking clip,in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain aspects of the disclosure may be found in a method and systemfor a multi-fiber push-on/pull-off connector locking clip. Exemplaryaspects of the disclosure may comprise operatively coupling amulti-fiber push-on/push-off (MPO) connector to an MPO adaptor byinserting the MPO connector into the MPO adaptor, where the MPOconnector comprises an MPO connector pull-to-release housing. The MPOconnector may be secured to the MPO adaptor by placing an MPO lockingclip adjacent to the MPO connector pull-to-release housing, therebypreventing the MPO connector pull-to-release housing from beingactuated. An optical cable may be coupled to the MPO connector. Theadaptor may be coupled to an optical device, which may include anoptical transceiver. The MPO locking clip may be plastic or metal. TheMPO connector and the MPO connector pull-to-release housing may beplastic.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating fiber optic communication utilizingmulti-fiber push-on/pull-off connectors, in accordance with an exampleembodiment of the disclosure. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown afiber optic network 100 comprising optical devices 101A and 101B,multi-fiber push-on/push-off (MPO) adaptors 103, MPO connectors 105, andoptical fiber 107.

The optical devices 101A and 101B comprise any device that is operableto communicate via optical signals for data communication ortelecommunications applications. For example, the optical devices 101Aand 101B may comprise optical transceivers integrated in servers forcommunicating data between racks of servers. Accordingly, the opticaldevice 101A may generate optical signals from electrical signals, withthe electrical signals either generated within the optical device 101Aor received from another device or server.

The optical device 101A may then communicate the optical signals overthe optical fiber 107 to the optical device 101B. The optical devices101A and 101B comprise MPO adaptors 103 for receiving MPO connectors,also commonly referred to as MTP connectors.

The optical fiber 107 may comprise one or more single-mode or multi-modecores in a single fiber for communicating a plurality of opticalsignals. For example, the optical fiber 107 may comprise an outerdimension of ˜200 micron diameter and eight cores of ˜9 micron diameterarranged in two rows of four cores. In other example scenarios, theoptical fiber 107 may comprise either individual single-core single-modefibers (for example 125 micron diameter with a single ˜9 micron core) ormulti-mode fibers (for example 125 micron diameter with a single ˜50micron core or a single ˜62.5 um core) or ribbonized versions of thesame single-core single-mode or multi-mode fibers arranged in a matrixof 4, 8, 12, or 24 fibers.

The MPO adaptors 103 provide a connection port in which MPO connectorsmay be inserted, and while the MPO adaptors 103 are shown on the opticaldevices 101A and 101B in FIG. 1, the disclosure is not so limited, asthey may be utilized to couple two fibers instead, for example.

The MPO connectors 105 may comprise connectors at each end of theoptical fiber 10 that may be inserted into the MPO adaptors 103, whilesupporting multiple core fibers. The MPO connectors 105 may comprise alens to reduce alignment sensitivity and to reduce the impact ofcontamination on light coupling. In addition, the MPO 105 may comprisealignment features to ensure the signals received from the cores of themulti-core fiber align with a receiving fiber or device. In addition,the MPO connectors 105 comprise a locking feature, such as a lockingring, that ensures connection of the MPO connectors 105 to the MPOadaptors 103, which may be released by pulling the locking ring.

In operation, the MPO connectors 105 may be inserted into the MPOadaptors 103, with a locking ring fixing the connectors to the adaptors.A clocking clip may be inserted in the MPO connectors 103 to preclude aninadvertent disconnect of the MPO connectors 103 from the MPO adaptors105. The optical devices 101A and 101B may then communicate opticalsignals via the optical fiber 107, with signals being communicated in aplurality of optical cores in the optical fiber 107.

The MPO connectors 105 may enable the alignment of the cores at each endso that optical signals may be communicated from a core in one opticalfiber to a corresponding core in another optical fiber. The multi-coreconnectors 105A and 105B may comprise lenses and alignment features toensure the alignment of the optical signals with the appropriatereceiving fiber cores. To remove the fiber 107 from the optical devices101A and 101B, the locking clips may be removed from the MPO connectors103 after which the locking ring may be pulled back, in the direction ofthe fiber side of the MPO connectors 103, to disconnect the MPOconnectors 103.

The MPO adaptor and connector with locking ring are shown further withrespect to FIGS. 2-4.

FIG. 2 illustrates a multi-fiber push-on/push-off connector with alocking clip, in accordance with an example embodiment of thedisclosure. Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown an optical interconnect200 comprising an MPO adaptor 203, an MPO connector 205, and an opticalfiber 207. The MPO connector 205 comprises an MPO connectorpull-to-release housing 209, and MPO locking clip 211.

The MPO adaptor 203 may be coupled at one end, opposite to the endfacing the MPO connector 205, to an optical device, such as the opticaldevice 101A or 101B, or any other optical structure, including anotheroptical fiber. The MPO connector 205 may be affixed to optical fiber207, thereby providing a connection to the optical fiber 207.

The MPO connector pull-to-release housing 209 may be utilized to removethe MPO connector 205 from the MPO adaptor 203, where the housing 209may be pulled in the direction away from the MPO adaptor 203, therebydetaching the housing 209 from the MPO adaptor 203. The MPO locking clip211 may comprise a C-shaped clip that may be inserted onto the MPOconnector 205 behind the MPO connector pull-to-release housing 209 topreclude any inadvertent disconnect of the MPO connector 205 with theMPO adaptor 203, as shown with respect to FIG. 4. In an examplescenario, the MPO adaptor 203, the MPO connector 205, the MPO connectorpull-to-release housing 209, and the MPO locking clip 211 compriseplastic, although other materials are possible, such as metal orceramic.

FIG. 3 illustrates the coupling of a multi-fiber push-on/push-offconnector to a multi-fiber push-on/push-off adaptor, in accordance withan example embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to FIG. 3, there isshown optical interconnect 300 showing the MPO connector 205 beingoperatively coupled to the MPO adaptor 203 by pushing the MPO connector205 into the MPO adaptor 203, before insertion of the MPO locking clip211 adjacent to the MPO connector pull-to-release housing 209.

When the MPO connector 205 is operatively coupled to the MPO adaptor 203as shown in FIG. 3, it can easily be removed by pulling on the MPOconnector pull-to-release housing 209 and may be inadvertently oraccidentally removed by a motion of the optical interconnect 300 suchthat the MPO connector pull-to-release housing 209 is moved with respectto the MPO adaptor 203.

FIG. 4 illustrates the securing of a multi-fiber push-on/push-offconnector to a multi-fiber push-on/push-off adaptor with a locking clip,in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure. Referring toFIG. 4, there is shown optical interconnect 400 showing the MPOconnector 205 being operatively coupled to the MPO adaptor 203 bypushing the MPO connector 205 into the MPO adaptor 203, and afterinsertion of the MPO locking clip 211 adjacent to the MPO connectorpull-to-release housing 209. In this manner, the MPO connectorpull-to-release housing 209 cannot inadvertently be pulled to disconnectthe MPO connector 205 from the MPO adaptor 203.

The MPO locking clip 211 enables securing of the MPO connector opticalinterconnect 400 while still allowing for disconnecting of the MPOconnector 205 or for coupling a different optical cable to the MPOadaptor 203.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, a method and system are disclosedfor a multi-fiber push-on/pull-off connector locking clip. In thisregard, aspects of the disclosure may comprise a multi-fiberpush-on/push-off (MPO) adaptor, an MPO connector having an MPO connectorpull-to-release housing, and an MPO locking clip. The MPO connector isoperable to be inserted into the MPO adaptor and the locking clip iscoupled to the MPO connector adjacent to the MPO connectorpull-to-release housing, thereby preventing the MPO connectorpull-to-release housing from being actuated. An optical cable may becoupled to the MPO connector. The adaptor may be coupled to an opticaldevice. The optical device may comprise an optical transceiver. The MPOlocking clip may be plastic or metal. The MPO connector and the MPOconnector pull-to-release housing may be plastic.

In another example scenario, the system may comprise a multi-fiberpush-on/push-off (MPO) adaptor, an optical fiber an MPO connector havingan MPO connector pull-to-release housing, the MPO connector coupled tothe optical fiber, and a plastic MPO locking clip. The MPO connector isoperable to be inserted into the MPO adaptor and the plastic lockingclip is coupled to the MPO connector adjacent to the MPO connectorpull-to-release housing, thereby preventing the MPO connectorpull-to-release housing from being actuated.

While the invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the present disclosure without departing from itsscope. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not belimited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the presentdisclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for communication, the methodcomprising: operatively coupling a multi-fiber push-on/push-off (MPO)connector to an MPO adaptor by insertion of the MPO connector into theMPO adaptor, wherein the MPO connector comprises an MPO connectorpull-to-release housing; securing the MPO connector to the MPO adaptorby placing an MPO locking clip adjacent to the MPO connectorpull-to-release housing, thereby preventing the MPO connectorpull-to-release housing from being actuated.
 2. The method according toclaim 1, wherein an optical cable is coupled to the MPO connector. 3.The method according to claim 1, wherein the adaptor is coupled to anoptical device.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the opticaldevice comprises an optical transceiver.
 5. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the MPO locking clip is plastic.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the MPO locking clip is metal.
 7. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the MPO connector and the MPOconnector pull-to-release housing are plastic.
 8. A system forcommunication, the system comprising: a multi-fiber push-on/push-off(MPO) adaptor, an MPO connector having an MPO connector pull-to-releasehousing, and an MPO locking clip, the MPO connector being operable to beinserted into the MPO adaptor and the locking clip being coupled to theMPO connector adjacent to the MPO connector pull-to-release housing,thereby preventing the MPO connector pull-to-release housing from beingactuated.
 9. The system according to claim 8, wherein an optical cableis coupled to the MPO connector.
 10. The system according to claim 8,wherein the adaptor is coupled to an optical device.
 11. The systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the optical device comprises an opticaltransceiver.
 12. The system according to claim 8, wherein the MPOlocking clip is plastic.
 13. The system according to claim 8, whereinthe MPO locking clip is metal.
 14. The system according to claim 8,wherein the MPO connector and the MPO connector pull-to-release housingare plastic.
 15. A system for communication, the system comprising: amulti-fiber push-on/push-off (MPO) adaptor; an optical fiber an MPOconnector having an MPO connector pull-to-release housing, the MPOconnector coupled to the optical fiber; and a plastic MPO locking clip,the MPO connector being operable to be inserted into the MPO adaptor andthe plastic locking clip being coupled to the MPO connector adjacent tothe MPO connector pull-to-release housing, thereby preventing the MPOconnector pull-to-release housing from being actuated.